Spa Crawl

Want to know whether the latest zany beauty treatments actually work? We test 20 of them

By
Time Out Dubai staff
25 January 2010

1 Caviar facial: We all know the rich love caviar, but who knew they like to spread it on their faces, too? The gorgeous Amrita Spa in Raffles has a special treatment, ‘Her Royal Highness facial’, that uses a full range of caviar-extract products. There are other unusual elements to the session, namely having your face massaged with vibrating chopsticks and warm balls (at least that’s what it feels like). But being wrapped in a heated blanket and toasty mittens is certainly snug. Coupled with the hand treatment and head, neck and shoulder massages, you’ll have a truly blissed-out 90 minutes. Thankfully, there’s not a fish egg in sight.
Does it work? 3/5
Raffles Amrita, Raffles (04 314 9869; spa.dubai@raffles.com). Dhs829.

2 Glacier facial: The bizarre part of this 90-minute facial comes at the end, when an ice cube is traced over the face to apply a serum. This stimulates endorphins, which are meant to generate a sensation of relaxation and wellbeing (it makes your skin happy, basically). Before that, the therapist at the Desert Palm’s secluded Lime Spa conducts a skin analysis and applies the products that best suit your needs (minerals, essential oils, that kind of thing). A soothing facial massage is followed by a refreshing, cooling mask, and then the ice cube looms. It’s to be expected that ice on the face is going to sting, but in this case it’s worth it – never before has our skin radiated such a tangible glow.
Does it work? 5/5
LIME Spa at the Desert Palm Retreat, on Al Awir Road towards Hatta-Oman, just past Dragon Mart (04 323 8888, www.desertpalm.peraquum.com). Dhs755.

3 Ear acupuncture: Acupuncture for your ears? That sounds nasty. Having a bunch of needles shoved in your ear is supposed to cure stress. We’re told it rebalances the energy in your body: apparently, parts of the ear represent the spirit and heart. You also get your face, legs, arms and feet skewered, but that’s not what hurts – it’s all in the ear. We’re surprised how painful it is to be spiked in our fleshless ear cartilage, and spend the 20 minutes of ‘relaxation time’ willing the therapist to come back and take them out. A couple of mini-needles are then inserted in the ear, and we’re instructed to keep them in for a week. Appropriately enough, the next five days are very stressful and, although we don’t feel completely calm, colleagues say we seem less agitated than usual. So maybe there’s something to this needles in the ear malarkey after all.
Does it work? 3/5
Chaslu Wellbeing Centre, Villa 15, Street 7b, Jumeirah Beach Road (04 395 5799, www.chasludubai.ae). Dhs180 for one hour.

4 Paraffin mani-pedi: Dunking your feet and hands into a vat of hot wax may sound like deranged medieval torture, but it’s supposed to leave the skin smoother than a Barry Manilow CD. It begins with standard mani-pedi jazz such as scrubbing, buffing and filing, then feet and hands are dunked in heated pots of paraffin wax. The strawberry-scented wax is uncomfortably hot to begin with, but cools as the wax hardens. When it’s scraped off, we’re stunned to feel our skin is so delightfully silky, we nearly slip off our flip flops on the way home.
Does it work? 5/5
Sisters Beauty Lounge, The Village, Jumeirah (04 342 0787). Dhs280.

5 Heart-shaped surprise: It’s no wonder Spaces calls itself a hyper-salon – its specialities run the gambit. Of all the varied treatments on offer, however, none is quite as unique as the bikini wax options. There are posters throughout the salon detailing the shapes you can choose: a downward-pointing arrow (for the truly clueless), a diamond or a heart (we opted for the latter). While the artwork leaves a little to be desired, it’s actually one of the most professional, pain-free waxes in town. To achieve the low ouch-factor, Spaces uses hard wax. We approve.
Does it work? 4/5
Spaces, Arabian Center (04 284 5673). Other location: Oasis Centre (04 515 4400). Dhs105.

6 Banana facial: This treatment involves the therapist scrubbing your face with a banana dipped in brown sugar. Why? Apparently, bananas are good for acne, and the vitamins and minerals restore collagen in the skin to fight ageing. But having your face tickled with fruit is the least enjoyable part of this spa journey, dubbed ‘Lanna Lovin’, which includes a thorough body scrub, relaxing hydrotherapy bath and an oil massage. The facial, however, involves dumping as much gunk (however natural) onto your face as possible, including yoghurt, oatmeal and honey. Our skin looked clear afterwards, but lacked a real glow. That said, everything else was superb.
Does it work? 3/5
SensAsia Urban Spa, Jumeirah Beach Road (04 349 8850; for other locations see www.sensasiaspas.com). Dhs1,100.

7 Acupressure facial: This delightful cleanse, steam and massage involves pressing on the chin, temples, ears, neck, cheeks, eyebrows and forehead. More vigorous than a traditional facial, we really feel the blood and oxygen flowing all around the face. Brace yourself for a hefty tug on the lugs – to relieve hypertension – and a disconcerting prod close to the nostrils. This sends a charge up the front of the face and into the brain and is, apparently, a great revival technique for fainters. Overall, though, this relaxing experience left our face feeling cleansed, youthful and relaxed.
Does it work? 5/5
Feet First Reflexology & Massage Centre, The Dubai Mall, lower ground floor (04 339 9369). Dhs100 for 30 minutes, Dhs175 for one hour.

8 Past life cord cutting
Husband and wife Terri and Buddy Allen took a course in past-life regression, and now Terri helps people toss the baggage they supposedly carry around from life to life. Terri practises out of her villa in Jumeirah, and uses a combination of crystals, reiki and intuition to help cut those cords. Her views can come across as rather, well, out there. She tells us that apparently, we used to live on the lost island of Atlantis, where the men forced us into slavery and made us wear a chastity belt. Not recommended for the highly impressionable.
Does it work? 1/5
Call Terri Allen on 050 655 5814, or visit www.angelsoflightonline.com. Dhs450 per session.

9 The five-hour marathon treatment: You’ll never want Amara Spa’s five-hour pampering journey to end. Any ache you have, the hot bath will soothe it; any knot you have, the Thai massage will crack it; any stress you feel, the reflexology will relieve it. The Indian head massage and facial also sort out your scalp and skin – you’ll even be able to hear better after the ear candling. Combine this with the beautiful setting of the Park Hyatt spa, friendly staff and lunch by the pool (which you’re also free to use), and you have yourself a day to remember. You’ll look and feel better than you have in a long time.
Does it work? 5/5
Amara, Park Hyatt Dubai (04 602 1660). Dhs1,995.

10 Singing bowl massage: First up in this musical treat is a traditional Balinese massage (think firm, kneading strokes and pressure point stimulation that’s just the right side of uncomfortable) before the good bit kicks in. A Tibetan metal bowl is struck and placed against different points on the skin, with the resulting vibrations humming through the body. It’s meant to help eliminate toxins and cleanse the body’s energy lines and, while it tickles a bit, it’s pleasant in a strangely hypnotic way. We’re not sure it eliminates many toxins, but we definitely felt more relaxed for the rest of the day.
Does it work? 3/5
Lily Pond Massage and Retreat, Old Town, Yansoon 9 (04 420 5231). Dhs260.

11 Reiki haircut: Dubai has quite a few seasoned reiki practitioners – healers who claim to channel positive energy around the body with the use of their hands. It’s amazing the many forms that reiki takes; in this town you can get reiki massages and even reiki haircuts. We’re still holding out for reiki taxis. Still, even if you don’t believe lowly humans can move healing energy around, it certainly never hurts to have someone think positive thoughts when doing your hair.
Does it work? 3/5
SJB Salon, Al Nasr Leisureland (04 335 4993). Treatments from Dhs50, cut and style from Dhs180.

12 Grape facial: Grapes contain antioxidants that are supposedly good for the skin, so Marie France Bodyline has come up with the ultimate grape facial, called the D’vine Essence Therapy. For an hour and 15 minutes, you’ll be scrubbed with an exfoliant made with grapeseed powder and optivegetol (aka non-alcoholic) wine, then swathed with a serum made from grape extracts, slathered in a cream containing grapeseed extracts, more optivegetol wine and red vine titrami (macerated vine leaves). The procedure also includes a thick, purple-coloured face mask that looks creepy when peeled off – the effect is supposed to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles. It’s a detailed process, though we can’t say we noticed any great benefit.
Does it work? 2/5
Marie France Bodyline, Al Wasl Road (04 344 8760). Dhs700.

13 Placenta facial: We know members of the fairer sex are meant to endure pain most of our lives, in the form of plucking, waxing and the like. But placenta facials? What did we do to deserve this? The thought of it makes us feel a little ill. Does it look like foie gras? Is it, um, human placenta? Biolite owner Mona Mirza owner laughs gently. ‘It’s the first question everyone asks,’ she says, before confirming it is indeed human placenta, harvested from a Russian hospital ward where it is (rather disturbingly) sold off by new mums. We’d rather not imagine how someone first discovered the skin-saving benefits of placenta, but it turns out that this is actually some kind of wonder ingredient. Filled with a whole host of nutrients, including amino acids and enzymes, it is said to repair the skin, diminish fine lines, fight ageing and so on. Biolite’s Placenta Diamond Facial initially seems like a regular treatment. The skin is cleansed, steamed, massaged with serum and covered with a mask, all containing placenta. The only indication something out of the ordinary is happening is when the therapist uses hot stones to rub the serum into the skin, to avoid the product being absorbed by her fingers. Once the mask is applied, she uses a low-level laser to help the ingredients work their magic. The results? We’re genuinely surprised. Though these treatments are said to be most effective as part of a package, our skin positively blooms, and is smoother than a baby’s… sorry. The fact is, the facial gives results. We’re still not all that comfortable with the thought of some Russian woman selling her placenta. On the flipside, placentas are usually binned anyway, right? That is, unless you’re Tom Cruise, who apparently wanted to eat his wife’s placenta. But let’s not even go there.
Does it work? 5/5
Biolite Skin Clinic, (04 375 2122). Dhs2,000 a session.

14 Black sand exfoliation: Exfoliation is a much-touted beauty regime that helps to scrub off dead skin cells, and this particular treatment uses fine, soft black sand from Tahiti that’s packed with skin-friendly minerals. While the actual exfoliation feels a bit like being scrubbed with sandpaper, it’s followed by a pink clay wrap to soothe (which gives you the chance to snooze while cocooned in a snug plastic sheet), and an invigorating massage. We must admit being a bit sceptical (surely it’s easier to pop to Jumeirah beach and roll in the sand?), but our skin was noticeably smoother, and looked radiant for a week.
Does it work? 5/5
LIME Spa at Desert Palm, on Al Awir Road towards Hatta-Oman (04 323 8888, www.desertpalm.peraquum.com). Dhs1,200.

15 The chocolate mani-pedi: Chocolate and pampering sounds like a fairly standard combination, but when you get the sweet brown stuff smeared over your limbs, things become a little more unusual. As you snuggle down onto one of the comfy chairs, the two friendly therapists set to work: the usual cleaning, filing and clipping is combined with a gorgeous-smelling chocolate scrub, mask and a massage using strawberry lotion. You’ll come out with smooth hands and feet – and smelling like an Easter egg.
Does it work? 4/5
Tips & Toes, Jumeirah Beach Residence plaza level, Amwaj (04 429 3477). Dhs180.

16 Coffee scrub We love coffee!: We usually take it strong, black and with plenty of sugar, so the coffee massage at Zen Spa is cause for much excitement. The black stuff can boost circulation and exfoliate skin, we’re told, if smothered over the butt and thighs. The eco-friendly scrub is made from coarse coffee grounds, plant extract and olive oil. The treatment lasts a little over an hour and is vigorous, though unusually relaxing, leaving skin feeling smoother (although it’s hard to tell if it does actually increase blood flow). Still, the all-natural ingredients are a refreshing change. And you’ll leave smelling faintly of an Americano.
Does it work? 3/5
Zen Beauty Lounge, Discovery Gardens, Street 1, Building 3 (04 434 3017). Dhs275.

17 Colour harmonising massage: SpaDunya no doubt has one of the most original spa concepts in town. It offers all the classic spa treatments, but customises each one using the client’s colour preferences. The philosophy goes that because each colour has a different wavelength, it also has a different energy, which represents what you’re craving. The colours you pick are then connected to scented oils (rose for pink, cinnamon for purple, menthol for indigo), which are incorporated into the treatment (if you’re getting a massage, the oils are rubbed into your back). While we’re not exactly convinced by our colour evaluation, the massage was one of the most soothing we’d had in ages.
Does it work? 1/5
The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, Shams 1 (04 439 3669). Dhs390 for 60 minutes, Dhs515 for 90 minutes.

18 Essential manicure
I’m a little bit wary of having a manicure. However, I immediately feel at home in Urban Male Lounge in the heart of DIFC. After being seated in a La-Z-Boy chair, I’m shown a vast array of TV channels to choose from during my treatment (I opt to watch My Name is Earl). My manicure is speedy and efficient, giving me enough time to grab a quick sandwich before heading back to the office with hands primed to shake on more multi-million-dirham deals. Adam Wilson
Does it work? 5/5
Urban Male Lounge, DIFC precinct building 2, level 2 (04 425 0350). Dhs80.

19 Citrus-C facial: I’ve signed up for an hour of organic facial remedies. While it’s not a particularly strange treatment, the ingredients certainly are. Grapefruit, melon, pear, apricots, horseradish and even tomato sun cream may seem more at home on your plate than on your face, but the results are impressive and my skin feels softer. If you consider yourself an eco-friendly male with an hour to spare, this should be your next port of call. David Donaghy
Does it work? 4/5
H20 The Male Spa, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 319 8181). Dhs520.

20 Chest waxing: ‘Do you like your job?’ I ask the therapist as she spreads a thick, sticky substance on my chest hair. ‘Yes,’ she chuckles, ‘I like causing pain.’ She may be joking, but that’s exactly what she does. Luckily, the pain isn’t as bad as I’m expecting, and despite some spots of blood, my chest comes away unscathed and mostly hairless. ‘The more you do it, the less it hurts,’ she advises me. I’ll take her word for it. James Wilkinson
Does it work? 4/5
Top Style Salon, The Aviation Club, Garhoud (04 282 9663). Dhs150 for either chest or back waxing.